2018 Jeep Cherokee: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee
On the 2018 Jeep Cherokee, the failure owners report most often is other powertrain problem, and the reports cluster around 32,500 miles. The earliest to appear is stalling while driving, reported by a median of 20,000 miles. Overall it scores 78 out of 100, severe risk for a 2018.
Severe risk for a 2018 — 73rd riskiest of the 251 2018 vehicles we can rate. 993 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee
Owners have reported 65 named failure modes on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee, and the three most-reported carry 45% of everything filed.
Other powertrain problem leads with 186 reports, about 2.5 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 20k to 50,000 miles.
Other electrical problem follows with 157 reports, usually reported between 20k to 45,000 miles.
Other engine problem follows with 108 reports, usually reported between 17k to 47,500 miles. 1 of those report mention a fire.
By system, the reports fall mostly into electrical (199), engine (197) and transmission (195).
When these failures get reported
506 of the reports on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 31,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 80% by 50,000 miles, 96% by 100,000 miles and 99% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 2 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 20,000 and 30,000 miles, which alone holds 18% of the dated reports.
57% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
In the order they tend to show up: stalling while driving around 20k, wiring harness or short circuit around 21k, other steering problem around 22k and excessive oil consumption around 25k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 65. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 2 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
What happens when these parts fail
Across the named modes, 13 mention a crash, 5 a fire and 1 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 3.41, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500, other electrical problem at $250–$2,000, other engine problem at $300–$4,000 and excessive oil consumption at $900–$6,500. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
42% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 186 | 94 | 20k | 33k | 50k | 2.5 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 157 | 90 | 20k | 35k | 46k | 2.2 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other engine problem | engine | 108 | 52 | 17k | 29k | 48k | 1.5 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 31 | 24 | 24k | 25k | 37k | 0.4 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 30 | 16 | 32k | 34k | 44k | 0.4 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Other steering problem | steering | 23 | 11 | 10k | 22k | 27k | 0.3 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 18 | 7 | — | 20k | — | 0.2 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 17 | 12 | 11k | 20k | 41k | 0.2 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 16 | 7 | — | 40k | — | 0.2 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 16 | 14 | 30k | 39k | 47k | 0.2 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 14 | 1 | — | 82k | — | 0.2 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 14 | 8 | 34k | 40k | 49k | 0.2 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 14 | 9 | 24k | 36k | 41k | 0.2 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Oil leak | engine | 13 | 4 | — | 125k | — | 0.2 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 13 | 10 | 22k | 37k | 120k | 0.2 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 12 | 2 | — | 104k | — | 0.2 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 11 | 9 | 18k | 21k | 40k | 0.2 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 11 | 2 | — | 5k | — | 0.2 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 8 | 3 | — | 10k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 7 | 4 | — | 34k | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Software fault or failed update | software | 7 | 4 | — | 35k | — | 0.1 | $0–$600 | Moderate |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 6 | 6 | — | 40k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Parking sensor failure | adas | 6 | 5 | — | 466 | — | 0.1 | $180–$900 | Low |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 6 | 2 | — | 33k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Overheating | cooling | 5 | 2 | — | 15k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure | transmission | 5 | 3 | — | 6k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,400 | High |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 5 | 2 | — | 17k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Infotainment screen failure | infotainment | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $400–$2,600 | Low |
| Backup camera failure | infotainment | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 5 | 4 | — | 23k | — | 0.1 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 5 | 2 | — | 7k | — | 0.1 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 4 | 1 | — | 46k | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 4 | 2 | — | 40k | — | 0.1 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Catalytic converter failure | emissions | 4 | 2 | — | 44k | — | 0.1 | $900–$3,500 | Moderate |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 4 | 1 | — | 52k | — | 0.1 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 3 | 2 | — | 54k | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Engine knock or bearing noise | engine | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $2,500–$9,000 | High |
| Wheel bearing or hub failure | drivetrain | 2 | 1 | — | 119 | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure | body | 2 | 1 | — | 130k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,500 | Moderate |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 2 | 1 | — | 2k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Electrical fire or melted wiring | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 39k | — | 0.0 | $1,500–$9,000 | Critical |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| Lifter, cam or cylinder-deactivation failure | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,800–$7,000 | High |
| Thermostat failure | cooling | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$900 | Moderate |
| Fuel gauge or level sensor failure | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 7k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Engine sensor failure | electrical | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $180–$900 | Moderate |
| Audio or connectivity failure | infotainment | 1 | 1 | — | 141k | — | 0.0 | $150–$900 | Low |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 1 | 1 | — | 12k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 280 | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Automatic braking for no reason | adas | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $0–$1,500 | Critical |
| Lane keep or steering assist fault | adas | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,600 | High |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Air suspension failure | suspension | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $900–$4,500 | High |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 152 | 81 | 19k | 31k | 42k | 2.1 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2018 Jeep Cherokee draws about 14 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 92nd percentile of complaint rates among 2018 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 72,964 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2018 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other powertrain problem
Transmission randomly does not want to go in the right gear. The vehicle then feels like it is almost stopping and jerking hard while the vehicle then finds the correct gear and starts working properly again a weird noise also seems to randomly come for the engine or transmission. I have not been able to find a trigger or what makes the transmission do this, it seems completely random. I have taken it to two different dealerships and both said they could not duplicate the problem. The second time I took it in they took it on a test drive said they heard the noise and kept my vehicle overnight, the next day he called and said nothing is wrong don't worry about it. As we were leaving the dealership another service advisor came up and stated that they have several complaints about this and they do not know how to fix the issue so they are all advised to state they can not duplicate the problem so that people do not start returning their cars. He also stated to file a compliant so that chrysler will do something about the issues with the transmissions
First started with jerking as you're driving at one time we were at a stoplight as and it the car just wanted to take off by itself and we almost got into a car accident the car is always low on oil I mean we bought the car with 3 miles within weeks it would actually had no oil my husband thought out maybe the manufacturer just didn't fill it up all the way by mistake didn't check it out so he went and purchased will put oil in it two weeks later took it for an oil change and we already a quart low car waste is gas like crazy we are constantly filling up every 2 days and then car doesn't really go anywhere but from what 15 miles a day on our way to kansas so we were coming to a curve and my husband try to hit the brakes and the car did not break it actually accelerated and he had to put the car in neutral as he was driving just to slow it down to avoid getting into an accident I mean we've always had trouble with this car since day one I bought the car in october and we've had multiple issues then I hear recall about a hose for the gas line that we're going to have to take it in for something definitely wrong with these cars
Other electrical problem
While driving car completely loses all power. Becomes difficult to control. Cannot be steered or moved. Turning onto a street at low speed in a very busy intersection with streetcar tracks. Car completely shut down and became inoperable. Vehicle stuck in traffic with streetcar and trucks almost hitting it from behind. Could not be pushed. *dt updated 10/18/18*jb
Monday‎, ‎august‎ ‎13‎, ‎2018 the jeep cherokee was in for its first oil change. Minutes after receiving the vehicle from the oil change and driving off the dealer lot at 10:07 am received the charging/battery indicator along with the auto start/stop error indicator. Seconds later when trying to turn the jeep became very difficult to turn. The vehicle began to emit a bunch of smoke. When we returned to the service center at the dealer, it was explained that a faulty o-ring on the oil filter caused the loss of 2 quarts of oil. Smolich motors service center failed to note the auto start stop error and no error was present after the loss of oil was replenished and we received the vehicle back despite being shown the picture of the error. They did note the o-ring failure and the loss of 2 quarts of oil on the service order receipt. Thursday‎, ‎september‎ ‎6‎, ‎2018 9:28 am while turning from badger st on to the bend parkway the charging/battery light appeared with the message to service throttle control and again experienced difficult steering while narrowly…
Other engine problem
Picked up the vehicle from southern jeep greenbrier va. March 17, 2018, after transmission was replaced, 854 miles on vehicle. Drove the vehicle 22 miles home without incident. Left home 0800 march 18, 2018 and drove less than 2 miles and at 55 MPH the engine quit without warning (no warning lights until the engine cut off) on the kings highway state rt. 125. This road has limited shoulders as it travels through a swamp so the vehicle was in the road presenting a safety hazard. Called good sams roadside assistance and had the vehicle towed to southern jeep greenbrier. Two major component failures transmission and engine within a week with half that time undergoing repairs. Fault codes displayed in the dashboard with the engine not running: engine temperature warning, engine check/malfunction, engine throttle control, electronic park brake, and electronic stability control. I tried multiple time to restart the engine with no success. I am concerned about the safety and reliability of this vehicle. *tt *js
First started with jerking as you're driving at one time we were at a stoplight as and it the car just wanted to take off by itself and we almost got into a car accident the car is always low on oil I mean we bought the car with 3 miles within weeks it would actually had no oil my husband thought out maybe the manufacturer just didn't fill it up all the way by mistake didn't check it out so he went and purchased will put oil in it two weeks later took it for an oil change and we already a quart low car waste is gas like crazy we are constantly filling up every 2 days and then car doesn't really go anywhere but from what 15 miles a day on our way to kansas so we were coming to a curve and my husband try to hit the brakes and the car did not break it actually accelerated and he had to put the car in neutral as he was driving just to slow it down to avoid getting into an accident I mean we've always had trouble with this car since day one I bought the car in october and we've had multiple issues then I hear recall about a hose for the gas line that we're going to have to take it in for something definitely wrong with these cars
Recalls on the 2018 model year
NHTSA has issued 7 recall campaigns covering the 2018 Jeep Cherokee, affecting an estimated 155,553 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover power train, electrical system:wiring:front underhood, power train:axle assembly:axle shaft and electrical system:wiring. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
POWER TRAIN
63,130 vehicles 2025-04-29- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power and/or loss of park function.
- Consequence
- A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. A loss of park function can cause an unintended vehicle rollaway, which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the drivetrain control module and PTU software and replace the PTU, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning February 19, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 01C.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
12,779 vehicles 2018-08-09- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
- Consequence
- A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
702 vehicles 2018-07-26- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee all-wheel-drive vehicles. The bearing cage for the right front halfshaft assembly may not have been properly heat treated, possibly resulting in the bearing cage breaking and a potential halfshaft assembly failure.
- Consequence
- If the halfshaft bearing cage breaks, the halfshaft may not be able to transmit engine power, causing a loss of drive or it can allow the vehicle to move while in the "Park" position. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front right halfshaft assemblies, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U78.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
4,815,661 vehicles 2018-05-17- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is…
- Consequence
- If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
48,990 vehicles 2018-05-01- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a 2.4L engine. These vehicles may have been manufactured with a fuel tube that may leak fuel into the engine compartment.
- Consequence
- A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tube, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U39.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
357 vehicles 2017-10-24- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee and Compass vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure.
- Consequence
- If the oil pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the oil pump, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 5, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T65.
WHEELS:RIM
22,242 vehicles 2017-08-31- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The tire and rim size information required to be on the Certification label was omitted during manufacturing, which may result in an incorrect tire and rim combination being installed on the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
- Consequence
- The missing tire and rim designation information may lead to an incorrect combination being installed on the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners and will provide a corrected certification label, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T53.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2018 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Better and worse years of the same car
Severe risk for a 2018 — 73rd riskiest of the 251 2018 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 16 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 1997 comes out best at 63 and 2019 worst at 83, with 2018 itself at 78.
If the model year is negotiable, 1997, 2006, 1999, 1998, 1996, 2000, 2001 and 2022 score lower than 2018 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2014–2018 generation specifically, 2017 is the strongest year at 76 and 2015 the weakest at 81.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2014-2018 generation, 2017 Jeep Cherokee scores best at 76 and 2015 Jeep Cherokee worst at 81.
What to look at before buying one
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other steering problem from about 10k, stalling while driving from about 11k, other engine problem from about 17k and wiring harness or short circuit from about 18k.
On a 2018 Jeep Cherokee with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other steering problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
What this page cannot tell you
993 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 993 reports, 506 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 51% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?
The most-reported failures are other powertrain problem (186 reports, median 32,500 miles), other electrical problem (157 reports, median 35,000 miles) and other engine problem (108 reports, median 30,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2018 Jeep Cherokee problems start?
Stalling while driving is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 20,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 10,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 31,000 miles.
Is the 2018 Jeep Cherokee reliable?
It scores 78 out of 100 on our risk index, which is severe — 73rd riskiest of the 251 2018 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2018 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Jeep Cherokee is best?
Within the 2014–2018 generation, 2017 scores best at 76 out of 100 and 2015 worst at 81. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed